Arch brace



.MMW 4 fin 14% Sept. 28 1926. v 1,601,684

B. E. DRAKE ARCH BRACE Filed Oct. 23 1925 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

s'rai BERT E. DRAKE, ROCKVILLE CENTER, NEW YORK.

Anon Barron.

Application filed October 23, 1925.

My invention relates to an arch brace and particularly to a brace adapted to be incorporated in the shank of a shoe adjacent the heel. The general object of my invention is to provide an arch brace of the indicated type improved in various particulars whereby to preserve the flexibility of the shoe while strengthening the arch particularly. at the inner side.

The nature of my invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will clearly appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an arch brace formed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is an inverted view of a shoe with a portion of the sole turned back to disclose my improved arch brace which is incorporated in said shoe;

Figure 3 is a View partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation of a shoe body having incorporated therein my novel arch brace. 7

My improved arch brace consists of a plate designated generally by the numeral 10, said plate being adapted to be incorporated in the sole of a shoe A. beneath the inner sole 0 as clearly appears from Figures 2 and 3, in a manner that said plate constitutes a brace the heel.

The rear end of the arch bracelO is in the form of a flat extension 11 to be disposed directly over the heel 2'). The extension 11 is formed with a plurality of holes 12 to receive shoe nails 15 extending through the inner sole a and a hole is formed remote from the hole 12 as at 13 and toward, the front of the plate 10 to receive a rivet 14.

The brace 10 is of such a length that it terminates short of that portionc of the shoe which is disposed beneath the ball of the foot when the shoe is worn. The front end 16 of the plate is deflected laterally to lie at a side of thelongitudinal medial line of the arch, whereby the said front terminal 16 will be disposed nearer to the inside of the for the sole in the area of the arch adj acent- Serial No. 64,435.

or that edge adjacent the inner side of the a shoe with a tapering member 17 so positioned as to extend almost to the inner side edge of the shank. By deflecting the front portion 16 of the brace 10 laterally toward the inner side edge of the shank and forming at. said side edge the tapering or convergent member 17, the maximum support is afforded at the shank adjacent the heel and over an area terminating short of the ball of the foot. Thus, the arch affords the ample support for the foot and a bracing of the arch where it is subjected to the greatest strain, that is, at the outer edge. At the same time, a full supporting effect is'provided while lending to the shoe a-de sirable flexibility at the front end of the arch and in the region of the ball of the foot.

It will be observed that the hole 13-to receive the forward fastener is remote from the front edge of the bodily oifset front portion of the plate, and also it is forward of the rear end part 17 of said offset portion. The result isthat the arch of the shoe at the front portion is free of the extreme forward end of the arch supporting plate. This fact is important in taking a step with shoes equipped with the described plate, because the shoe can bend in the natural way adjacent the ball of the foot while at the same of the foot but does not lessen the complete flexibility of the shoe in walking.

I would state furthermore that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit "myself strictly to the exact details herein brace consisting of a stiffener plate adapted' at its rear end to be disposed in the heel of a. shoe, said plate being'of a length to be disposed with its front end terminating short of the front end of the shank of the shoe, the plate furthermore having means adapted to admit of fastening the sad plate in the shoe, said means being in a position remote from the front terminal of the plate to leave an unfastened free portion at the front end of the plate forward of said means, said plate furthermore having the major portion of the front end of the plate lying at 10 one side of the 'medial longitudinal line of the plate.

BERT E. DRAKE. 

